During an editorial board meeting last week, incumbent Executive Councilor Chris Sununu asked voters to return him to office. After meeting with Sununu and his challenger, Bill Duncan, the editorial board here at Foster's Daily Democrat agrees that Sununu is the right candidate for the job.

This endorsement should take nothing away from the gravitas of Duncan. He impressed us as capable and certainly interested in serving the voters of District 3, which includes a large portion of the Seacoast (complete list appears below). But Duncan's passion for political service would be better utilized in a run for the state Senate where his talk of educational excellence and other issues would be a better fit. This stands in contrast to Sununu whose passion for, and focus on, what the council does could have kept the editorial board session running for hours on end, instead of a mere 60 minutes.

For many voters the governor's Executive Council may be off the radar screen. But it should not be. This group of five, representing districts across the state, signs off on most all major state contracts. Its membership also confirms judicial appointments and department heads. Given the thousands of contracts and their thousands of pages, the job of a councilor can be daunting, not to mention the critical appointments that await the next governor and council.

Yet, Sununu clearly relishes the tasks posed to him as a councilor. And he readily answers tough questions.

Accused by Duncan of partisanship as a Republican on an all-Republican council, Sununu suggests this council may hold the record for 3-2 votes. Surely, not all that partisan in practice. On one of these votes — against conducting a rail study that could bring commuter trains chugging to New Hampshire — Sununu argues the study might be a good idea. But right now there is no funding to extend rail service and won't be for many years. As a result, any study funded now would have to be redone later — a duplication of cost. “Whether you love trains or hate trains, it just doesn't make financial sense,” he said.

Criticized for rejecting some appointments brought to the table by Gov. Lynch, Sununu freely ticks off the reasons. Of one rejected appointment in particular, Sununu saw the applicant as particularly partisan. Of another, he noted the use of public office for personal benefit, in spite of many years of public service that might have otherwise warranted confirmation.

In contrast to the criticism of partisanship brought by Duncan, Sununu says Gov. Lynch, a Democrat, has praised the current council as “one of the best councils” he's ever had.

When all is said and done, Sununu brings to the office a level of enthusiasm and knowledge well matched to the job of governor's Executive Council. As a result, our editorial board believes voters of all political stripes should feel comfortable checking the box next to Sununu's name in the District 3 Executive Council race on Nov. 6.